Spirit-Living Devotional
Apostle Osborn
A VOICE FROM THE FISH’S BELLY
[[Jon 2:1]] KJV Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly,
Jonah was instructed by God to go to Nineveh to preach repentance to the people. Jonah decided to go to Tarshish; directly opposite to Nineveh. He fled from the presence of God and got into trouble.
When we run away from God’s presence and His assignment for us, we only run into crises. The presence of God protects and guides us from evil. When we live in God’s presence, evil cannot come near us. When God’s presence becomes our habitation, we are exempted from calamity. David captured this beautifully in his Psalms:
[[Psa 91:9, 10]] KJV Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
*There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
Jonah, on the contrary, got swallowed by a big fish because he fled from God’s presence and assignment. But from the belly of the fish, Jonah prayed to God. This is a big lesson for us. In the midst of Jonah’s crises; right from the belly of the fish, he still prayed and worshipped God. When we disobey God or sin, we must not run away from God. Rather, we must run to God.
Don’t let your sin or something you’ve done wrong to make you flee from God’s presence. The best time to go to God is when we miss it. This morning, don’t allow what you’ve done to robb you of God’s presence. Run to God. Forsake the wrong. In the midst of whatever crises you may find yourself, cry out to God like Jonah. Love and worship Him. And God will come through for you.
Jonah worshipped God. From the fish’s belly, Jonah proclaimed, “But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD *(Jon 2:9).” And the next verse says;
[[Jon 2:10]] KJV And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.
What kept you is just about to release you. In the midst of your trouble; from the fish’s belly, still call on God. And He’ll come through for you.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you today for your love and goodness. I praise and adore you in all things. I magnify you above any situation I’m faced with, and I proclaim your lordship above all things. I adore you. I love you, Lord.
